A Safe Learning Space for Zimbabwean ECD Learners

We have THE BEST NEWS! 

Another local tourism operator has come on board with our Main Camp Primary School in Hwange to fund the construction of a whole new classroom dedicated to the Early Childhood Development Class! 

This is a huge development for the kids, who are currently having their lessons in a dilapidated two-room store room, which functions as their classroom. The early childhood development years are crucial as they are a period of rapid physical, mental, emotional, social and moral growth and development. A conducive learning environment is absolutely key for children to get the best possible start in life. 

A new site on the other side of the existing primary school grounds has been identified for the classroom, and we've seen building materials start to arrive, much to the teacher's excitement! 

An extended rainy season has also been a welcome gift after the drought, but it can dampen the spirits when you need dry ground to build. Adapt is a word we use every here day in Zimbabwe! So with the wonderful news of a proper classroom coming for the ECD children, and the rain continuing to fall, we adapt our strategy. 

Once the ground is dry and work begins on the new classroom, we'll begin laying foundations for the ablution block at the new classroom site instead of building a fence, which will now be the final piece of work to be done. 

This entire new facility including a proper classroom with space for more children and room for play-style learning with safe, clean ablutions, all secured within a fence, will no-doubt change the lives of many, many generations of early childhood development classes - and we're so excited for all of them! 

Thank you to every single one of you who is on this journey with us. We have a long way to go, but as we always say - if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. 

It may be the beginning of the rainy season here in Zimbabwe, but that isn't dampening anyone's spirits! 

The funds we've raised over the last quarter, particularly with the boost we received on Giving Tuesday, mean that we now have enough money to construct a fence around the Early Childhood Development Centre, play area and the site for the ablution block to keep the children safe. 

We're very pleased that we also have enough funds to give the outside of the classroom a fresh coat of paint and add some murals to brighten the area for the young learners. 

Zimbabwe receives its entire annual rainfall over a period of under three months, which makes construction during this period impossible. Therefore, both construction and exterior painting will unfortunately have to wait until the end of the rainy season sometime between late January and mid-February. 

From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank you for your kind contributions that are making the dream of a safe and conducive learning environment for ECD learners a reality. Our next goal is the big one - we need to raise another $19,000 to build ablution facilities for the children - but we know that together, we can do it! 

Links:

• Watch a Thank You Video from the ECD Learners